Ontario’s comprehensive approach to protect drinking water reached a milestone this month when the province approved the 22nd and final source water protection plan, covering more than 450 municipal drinking water systems across Ontario.

In 2006, Ontario passed the Clean Water Act.

“The Act required the creation of local source protection committees to identify threats and develop plans to protect water at its source – in rivers, lakes and aquifers….

Some of the threats the plans identify include:

Leaking septic systems

Fertilizer, manure, pesticide and roadsalt polluting the flow of water over land i.e. runoff

Micro-plastics

The next step is for the plans to be carried out. In some cases, this means that activities that pose a significant risk to drinking water sources won’t be permitted. In other cases, plans will be developed to ensure that activities identified in the source water protection plan don’t pose a threat. The measures will vary to match the risks and could include risk management approaches, land use planning, education about activities on vulnerable source water area, and potential bylaw changes….

The chief Drinking Water Inspector’s Annual Report (pdf), released last week, shows that municipal drinking water systems and non-municipal year-round residential systems have met drinking water quality standards (for microbiological, chemical and radiological parameters) in over 99% of tests.

Public access to municipal drinking water data has been improved, with the Open Data catalogue of the information from the Drinking Water report – this will be updated throughout the year.”

Ontario Approves 22 Local Source Water Protection Plans

Outstanding Local Efforts Protect Municipal Drinking Water

Ontario’s comprehensive approach to protect drinking water reached a milestone this month when the province approved the 22nd and final source water protection plan, covering more than 450 municipal drinking water systems across Ontario.

December 20th, 2015Community, Frugal Crowd, Health & Wellness, VideosComments Off on City of Toronto’s Holiday Activities and Recreation Options Include New Year’s Eve Celebration at Nathan Phillips Square at No Cost on December 31, 2015

The following video presents 2014-2015 toronto new year’s eve:

One of the City of Toronto’s holiday events is the FREE New Year’s Eve celebration at Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Thursday, December 31.

Join the celebration and ring in the New Year on December 31, 2015 at Nathan Phillips Square with Toronto’s largest dance and skating party!

The Festivities begin at 8 pm with a DJ Skating Party featuring DJs MelBoogie and P-Plus atmospheric performers.

The skating party will continue until 10 pm, alongside a variety of roaming atmospheric performances.

The Dance Party portion of the evening continues from 10 pm and will go until midnight to the music of DJ P-Plus followed by DJ Starting from Scratch.

The celebration will end at midnight with a spectacular fireworks display to music.

The City of Toronto encourages visitors to take the TTC to this event.

This New Year’s Eve, Torontonians can enjoy FREE, safe rides to and from their festivities across the city.

Toronto Transit Commission is offering complimentary, extended service from 7 p.m. on December 31, 2015, to 7 a.m. on January 1, 2016, including subway service until approximately 4 a.m.

December 8th, 2015Community, Frugal Crowd, Green, Health & Wellness, VideosComments Off on Top 10 Tips for a Greener Holiday in Ontario, Canada: Make Environmentally Friendly Choices to Help Fight Climate Change & Keep Ontario’s Air, Land & Water Clean

The following video presents Together We Can Change Climate Change:

“Ontario is a world leader in fighting climate change.

Alongside our global partners, we’re making a difference. Ontario is building transit friendly cities to cut down on vehicle emissions and helping businesses reduce their carbon footprint. And perhaps most importantly, we’ve ended coal-fired electricity generation in the province.

Together we can change climate change.

Learn more about what Ontario’s doing to fight climate change at ontario.ca/climatechange

A descriptive transcript for this video is available by visiting the following link:”

Make your holiday travel as green and safe as possible. Carpool or take public transit to holiday parties. If you have to fly over the holidays, consider purchasing carbon offsets.

Make your festive dinners environmentally friendly while supporting local businesses. Choose from Ontario’s wide range of local foods available in December.

Shop local or buy gifts made from Ontario wood or recycled non-toxic plastic.

Keep batteries out of landfills by giving gifts that don’t need batteries. If you need batteries, make them rechargeable.

Get creative with your wrapping. Reuse paper from household items like calendars, newspapers and fabric or decorate brown craft paper that can go in the Blue Box. Reuse your wrapping paper for other holiday decorating.